Straight Edge is a more philosophical offshoot of the punk movement, a
reaction to the hedonism and self-destruction that characterised punk.
The basic tenet of the philosophy centres around the issue of
self-control. The goal is to regain as much personal control over your
own life as possible. sXe is the only youth counter-culture to actively
discourage drug use, alcohol use, and casual sex. [2] [12]
Straight edge is a lifestyle centred around personal development and
well being, while encouraging fun and togetherness. sXe is not just
about being into contemporary punk music acts and being against drugs.
It goes deeper than this. The movement wishes to attract people away
from dependancy lifestyles centred around drug habits (legal or
illegal) and unhealthy and exploitative eating and general living
habits common in modern cultures. sXe is not dogmatic, there are no
hard rules, these are for you to decide. Nobody should dictate like
the police, or preach an ideology like the church or state. [15]
The term itself is believed to have been coined by the band Minor
Threat of the punk rock/hardcore scene in the early '80s. Their singer
Ian MacKaye eschewed the nihilistic tendencies of punk rock, promoting
instead the simple (almost simplistic) philosophy of "don't drink/
don't smoke/ don't fuck." [4]
Out of Step (with the world)
by Minor Threat, 1981 [3]
(I) Don't smoke
Don't drink
Don't fuck
At least I can fucking think
I can't keep up
Can't keep up
Can't keep up
Out of step with the world
In the 12 years since the demise of Minor Threat, these simple beliefs
have transformed the minds of scores of teens worldwide. Increasingly
disenchanted with societal ills, young men and women adopt the
straight-edge doctrine as a blueprint to better first themselves, and
then the world in which they live. While the original definition of
straight-edge only included the rejection of mind altering substances
and promiscuous sex, modern interpretations include a vegetarian (or
vegan) diet and an increasing involvement and awareness of
environmental and political issues. [4]
On 15 Sep 1997 Andy Dempz <adempz@umich!edu> wrote:
"Well... [Ian] might be credited with starting it, but he's made it
abundantly clear he doesn't care for what's it turned into. Read old
Minor Threat interviews, i bet most Earth Crisis fans would be shocked to
hear him say 'it doesn't mean never drink a beer...' Besides, after
watching every "hero" since then fall, from SSD to Youth of Today to
today's flavor of the month, i think worrying about some stranger's
lifestyle in regards to your own is a little silly. I do this for me,
no one else."
On 17 Sep 1997 Andy Dempz <adempz@umich!edu> wrote:
"I mean gees, just listen to what he mumbles in the middle of Out of
Step, 'there's no set of rules, i'm just bringing up three things
that are like so important to the whole world... whether they're
fuckin, or whether they're playing golf.' So maybe golf isn't sxe!"
From a Minor Threat interview in Touch & Go zine:
"Ian: Like Straight Edge, people have taken it to an extreme...as far
as i'm concerned all we did was put out an idea... if people wanna
hear it as preaching if that's what they want. Straight edge to me
is someone who is alert enough to benefit from what he or she is
doing...
"Lyle: the drug and alcohol is only one side of it anyway, it's alot
more than that, there are other things that can sidetrack you...
"Ian: That's what "don't Fuck" means... alot of people think that to
be straight edge you can't drink, smoke, or have sex and that's
silly... what the don't fuck thing is that the whole getting laid
and getting head thing
"Lyle: living for sex
"Ian: following your penis around is fucking people up more than
anything"

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